The word ‘contemporary’ refers to the here and now, the current era, or to things existing alongside each other. In interior design, it means a specific set of decor trends and ideals, focusing on space, clean lines, and neutral colors. Not to be confused with ‘modern’ decor, which typically refers to styles from the mid twentieth century (like art deco and midcentury modern) contemporary design announces an about-face from more traditional types of design. If you want a space free from clutter and you believe that “less-is-more”, contemporary could be the look for you.
Making Use of Negative Space
I couldn’t say why contemporary design has evolved to put an emphasis on negative space and open-plan rooms. Perhaps as our lives become more complicated, we take comfort in simplicity. As our world gets more crowded, we naturally want to search for a way to consolidate our space. As technology progresses, more and more of our work and possessions exist in cyberspace. That means we need less storage space and less surface area. Whatever the answer, one of the mainstays of contemporary design is learning to balance your space. Less is almost always more.
Simple Clean Lines
Where traditional style is all about the ornamentation, and modern looks are very geometric, contemporary design is all about the lines. Furniture is typically clean, low, and very unadorned. In other words, you won’t often see patterns in contemporary design, and when you do, they’ll be very simple. In the picture above, the texture of the exposed brick breaks up the design and keeps it from getting monotonous. Materials in this decor are typically modern and industrial–glass, steel, leather–and colors tend to be neutrals–blacks, grays, whites.
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Minimal Not Sterile
Rules are meant to be broken – and interior decorating is no exception. Think of design rules as more like guidelines. Wood is one of the most traditional materials there is. And the molded wood chair above is an iconic midcentury piece. And yet, this smooth-sanded, natural wood chair works well in a contemporary room. Why? Because it is simple and elegant. In other words, it keeps to the spirit of contemporary design, if not to the letter of the style guide. More importantly: in your home, you make the rules!
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Draw The Eye With Pops of Color
White is the base color for contemporary decor, most definitely. Perhaps it’s the simplicity, or the fact that white is the key to making a small space look larger or for making a dark space brighter. Whatever the case, too much white can quickly become overwhelming, leaving a room looking sterile or unwelcoming. If you aren’t careful, contemporary decor can go from sophisticated to downright ascetic. That’s why it’s important to break up the landscape with little hints of warmth. Just a few plants or colorful throw pillows can help draw the eye. A few pops of color are often all you need to keep the neutrals from overwhelming.
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More and more spaces are embracing the contemporary style, going with the less-is-more attitude. With the ever-increasing prices of real estate, many of us are looking to minimize the space we inhabit. This design trend is perfect for preventing a small space from becoming too cluttered and unlivable. Whether this holds true for you, or you are just looking to simplify your life, the contemporary style combines harmony, unity, and balance.
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